So now it’s finally upon us – the Knicks vs. Patrick Ewing on the hardwood tomorrow tonight in Seattle’s Key Arena.

It will be Ewing in white, gold and green, the Knicks in the road blue that ‘The Big Fella’ wore with dignity for 15 years, even if he failed to bring the Big Apple a parade down The Canyon of Heroes.

Unquestionably, his Feb. 27 return to the Garden will bring on more nostalgic-induced tears, but that’s only if Ewing is not on the injured list by then. Ewing has yet to fit in well with his new club, but at least he is healthy for his first tango with the Knicks since the historic Sept. 20 divorce.

It is a game that promises to be chockfull of sentiment, emotion and, perhaps, some hard feelings. Remember, it was Ewing who desperately didn’t want to be with these guys any longer. When it was pointed out to Latrell Sprewell during training camp that no member of the Knicks called Ewing in the weeks after the trade to wish him well, Spree wasn’t surprised. What did he expect?, Sprewell asked. He was the one who wanted to leave.

True to form, coach Jeff Van Gundy, by far the saddest member of the organization to see Ewing traded, is trying not to let the heightened personal feelings get in the way of coaching the Knicks to season’s sixth win and a successful three-game Western swing that also includes the Clippers and Chris Dudley’s Phoenix Suns. Van Gundy is concerned The Ewing Game will be one giant “distraction.”

“It’s big obviously playing against Patrick for the first time,” Van Gundy said. “But once you start preparation for it, you have to concentrate on your own team. We’re coming off a good week and want to keep building on it. We don’t want to get your mind focused on one player. We want to think about (Gary) Payton, (Rashard) Lewis, (Vin) Baker, (Ruben) Patterson. It’s not a one-game trip. And it’s not a one-player game.

“It’s obviously different when you see a player you used to coach and it’s very different with Patrick,” Van Gundy added. “But our team has to concentrate on this year and this year’s team and what we need to do to win rather than be distracted about seeing Pat, David (Wingate of Seattle) or later in the trip Chris Dudley. It will be very, very different, but we got to make sure we stay focused on the game and prepare to win.”

Ex-Piston Allan Houston once said he always felt the Pistons used to care more about shutting him down than winning the game. Houston’s first few games against the Pistons, whom he bolted as a free agent, were dreadful, but the Knicks wound up winning many of them. Houston hopes the Knicks care more about the ‘W’ than making Ewing look bad.

“He’s going to be emotional,” Houston said of Ewing. “He’ll be trying to be aggressive. That’s what I expect. But we’re looking for a challenge on this road trip. We know it means a lot because it’s practice. We’re looking forward to the whole road trip.”

Van Gundy still had no problems reminiscing about Ewing, who is credited with fostering, supporting and even saving Van Gundy’s successful five-year coaching reign. Van Gundy likely would’ve been fired during the lockout season if not for Ewing’s telling management: “Don’t you dare.”

Unlike his players, Van Gundy made sure to call Ewing and, in an emotional conversation, expressed his gratitude. “His support in general, not with management, just in general, helped me, obviously, tremendously,” said Van Gundy. “I certainly thanked him for all his help.”

However, a perception exists that Ewing was less than thrilled with Van Gundy during the summer for not lobbying to get him a contract extension. In fact, Van Gundy and Ewing had very little contact until after the Vin Baker/Glen Rice August blockbuster blew up.

When it looked like Ewing would have to return to the Knicks under embarrassing conditions, Van Gundy and Ewing spoke regularly, with the coach even visiting him in Washington, D.C. to convince him to drop his trade demand.

Three days after the Sept. 20 trade, Ewing showed up at Purchase College to work out with Van Gundy’s blessing, the two apparently having healed any past wounds.

“It makes you feel good that guys come back and work out at your place,” said Van Gundy, noting that John Wallace and Charles Oakley were also working out with Ewing that day. “With Pat it wasn’t anything uncomfortable. If that was the perception, that would bother me.”

Van Gundy admitted yesterday that the two had arguments but it never effected the team’s well-being. “He conducted himself as a champion and that’s how I’ll remember him and most knowledgeable fans feel the same way.”